Pros
The projects you get to work on can be inspiring and impactful. The knowledge of researchers inhouse is outstanding. Opportunites to work offshore can supplent low salaries.
Cons
Salary scales are outdated and there is no flexibility resulting in senior staff being replaced by gratuates. We're told gov need to implement the change but I've seen no push only resignation from senior management for change. At times it feels like staff are here on good faith knowing there are better paying positions elsewhere. Recently, teams are understaffed and workloads can be overwhelming resulting in only essential working being carried out. Almost everyone is on temporary contracts. New technologies are slow to implement due to the reluctance of some senior staff to embrace change (can be political).